Patent GB-2306155-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus and Method for Disassembling and Assembling Gas Turbine Combustors
Inventor: MATSUI HIROSHI
IPC: F01D25/28
Filed: 1996-10-04
Abstract: An apparatus 10 for disassembling and assembling a gas turbine combustor (2, Fig 1) and like components comprises a hand assembly 11 for holding a combustor component of a gas turbine, a support section 13 for the hand assembly and which moves the same in parallel to a central axis of the combustor component to remove or insert the component and a retainer 9, 15 for securing the apparatus onto a casing (which constitutes an outer section of the gas turbine). Preferably the support section comprises a carriage 13 moving on a frame 18 held by travelling portions 15 on rails 9 secured to the casing. The hand assembly preferably comprises inner 12 and outer gripper portions with the inner gripping the fuel nozzle (3, Fig 4) and the outer used for gripping the transition piece (6, Fig 5). The hands can have external or internal grippers and may have elastic rollers (Fig 18) to prevent component damage. The inner hand assembly can be folded out of the way via a joint 36 and has a counterweight 16. The hand assembly can be rotated e.g. via a motor (111, Fig 9) or pivoted to adjust its position via links e.g. (72, 73). Preferably the links are provided between mounting sections (55, 56,58) of the hand assembly. The links can be of trapezoid structure (Fig 10) and some can be of adjustable length (Figs 19 & 20) to allow fine position adjustment. Preferably a restoring mechanism to move the hand assembly back to a reference position is provided (Figs 14 - 16, 23, 52). Adjustable counterweights (90, 91, Figs 11 & 12) preferably balance the weight of the hand assembly and components carried thereby. Instead of links, arcuate sections and guides (Fig 21) can be provided. The retainer can comprise rails 9, rack and pinions or chains. The rails can be permanent or connected to the casing e.g. by adjustable mounts (Figs 47, 48). The rail can be comprised by a casing flange and the travelling sections run on bolt heads via a cog drive (Figs 45-47). Alternatively a chain system and cog drive can be provided with the rails (Figs 25-29). The housing of the travel section can be held on the rail by a pivot joint and resilient e.g. spring bolts to allow tilting and prevent damage of the rails. An overhead crane can be used to pass components to and from the hand assembly either directly or via a spreader with index points releasably interengaging with the frame portion 18 (Figs 41-42). Depending on the component, it can be carried from the spreader by chains and bolts or clamps (Figs 43, 44). Alternatively, for below the turbine, the component can be held, via the overhead crane, on a carriage movable on the rail (Fig 39, 40). The rail can also be used to releasably and adjustably clamp the fuel manifolds and pipes (Figs 37, 38). An operation area can be defined by rail sections and a switch detecting end of the area provided (Fig 51). Preferably, a controller (286, Fig 50) can be provided outside the operating area and a cable with switches (287) for indicating worker presence or absence provided within the operating area. Preferably the cable is held on a hitch (285).